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      Europa League-type contest for women’s game among new ideas floated by European club chiefs

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      OFFICIALS representing the biggest football teams in Europe are mulling over proposals for a Europa League-style tournament for the women’s game. The idea for the competition and a women’s Club World Cup are among a raft of exciting new suggestions being considered by the European Club Association.
      European football chiefs are considering plans for a new club competition in addition to the Women’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Bigwigs from the body backed by Uefa and representing 232 clubs included the proposals in their ‘Be a Changemaker’ strategy launched today.
      The plan aims to provide opportunities to boost revenue for the women’s game and support the creation of new women’s football clubs. 
      Claire Bloomfield, the ECA’s head of women’s football said: “We have a responsibility to explore all opportunities that can help grow the competition landscape, both on a European level with a second-tier competition and then on a much more global scale, with a possible Club World Cup.”
      The Women’s Champions League is currently the only club contest in the sport involving sides from across Europe. 
      From next term, up to three English sides will be able to compete in the Champions League in a new structure to include a group stage and a round of 16 for the first time.
      ECA chief Charlie Marshall suggests a women’s Club World Cup may soon be established as part of plans to support the international growth of the game.
      In men’s football, the Club World Cup has been going since the year 2000, with winners of the biggest competitions from different continents going head-to-head.
      German giants Bayern Munich are the current defending champions after beating Mexican outfit Tigres in February.
      ECA chief Marshall said: “The prospect of a Club World Cup, fairly soon in the women’s game, assuming that calendars can be resolved, is a really exciting one and I know FIFA is very keen on it as well
      “In the women’s game, there is much more potential, much more quickly, to develop global competitive balance.”
      The women’s game could soon have its own Europa League-style competitionCredit: PA

      Chelsea boss Emma Hayes believes the ECA’s new plans could help level the playing field between women’s football and the men’s game. 
      Hayes, whose team are due to play Wolfsburg said: “Our success on the pitch can be helped by winning off the pitch and ECA’s bold new plans can drive an even higher performance culture throughout the women’s game.
      “The standards in elite women’s football should not be any different from the men’s and this strategy has the potential to start closing the gap.”
      A Club World Cup for the women’s game has been included in proposals developed by the ECACredit: Getty
      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

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      Tottenham 0 Arsenal 3: Miedema nets wondergoal as Gunners trounce Spurs to keep heat on Man United

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      JOE MONTEMURRO hailed Vivianne Miedema for stealing the show in the North London derby with a glorious goal of the season contender. The Dutch dynamo’s volley was among the strikes that helped Arsenal crush Tottenham 3-0 to the heat on Manchester United.
      Vivianne Miedema’s volley helped Arsenal notch up a 3-0 win against SpursCredit: Reuters
      Miedema’s strike was her 15th league goal of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Montemurro said: “We know Viv’s qualities and her goal doesn’t surprise me as she does it in training. 
      “We’re definitely finding a good rhythm, and finding joy in the way we’re playing.
      “As for our win, we can only control what we can control. We can’t rely on other results 
      “I know it’s cliche but we just have to worry about, we’re doing and about keeping performances at this level.”
      Unlike last season, a record-breaking 38,262 crowd was not have there to witness the second WSL derby at Spurs’ iconic Prem venue, but both sides were hoping to put on a show. 
      After a cagey start, it was Arsenal who came out all guns blazing as they bid for a return to the Champions League.
      Montemurro’s side had a shot on target as early as the seventh minute with Katie McCabe’s half-volley off a Jordan Nobbs’ cross flying past Becky Spencer’s post. 
      And the visitors had a half-chance four minutes later with some nifty footwork from Miedema who saw her shot partially blocked by Spencer. 
      But the Gunners went ahead with Caitlin Foord burying their opener close to the half-hour mark. 
      Jordan Nobbs forced two fine saves from Spurs goalkeeper Becky SpencerCredit: Getty
      And Jordan Nobbs forced two fabulous flying saves from Spencer including one off the back of a stunning curled effort in the 28th minute 
      Montemurro’s team doubled their lead seven minutes later with Miedema netting her 15th goal of the season. 
      And it was an exquisite effort with the Dutch ace volleying her shot home with venom. 
      The early stages of the second half began in a similar manner to the first with Arsenal pinning the hosts back in their own half.
      And they registered a third goal with McCabe burying a low drive into the bottom corner in the 66th minute. 
      Despite enjoying the bulk of possession and shots on target, the Gunners suffered a couple of late second half scares. 

      And the hosts had a hat-trick of shots in the visitors’ penalty area in the 77th minute.
      Kit Graham, Rachel Williams, and Angela Addison all came close to becoming the first Tottenham Women’s aces to score at the home of their Prem counterparts. 
      Spurs boss Rehanne Skinner said: “I was pleased with the way my players responded in the second half – we’ve just got to be able to do that on a more consistent basis. 
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      Rehanne Skinner wants Tottenham to be more clinical up top with team scoring four times in their last seven gamesCredit: Getty
      “It was always going to be difficult against a top team like Arsenal at that stage. 
      “But from our side a goal would have given a bit more confidence and motivation and we might have then put a little bit more pressure on.” 
      The result sees Arsenal stay fourth and three points behind United – with a game in hand – ahead of their clash with Bristol. 
      Tottenham remain in eighth place and host Manchester City next. 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Tottenham will take on Manchester City in their next WSL matchCredit: Rex
      Watch Vivianne Miedema kick a ball over her head and perfectly into a basketball hoop More

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      Manchester United Women defeat West Ham 2-0 in historic victory in their first ever game at Old Trafford

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      MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN beat West Ham 2-0 in a historic win in their first-ever game at Old Trafford.Goals from Lauren James and Christian Press in the second half saw United sail to victory against the Hammers at the Theatre of Dreams.
      United saw off a resilient West Ham in their first ever game at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
      It was a winning start for Manchester United Women at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
      But despite United’s epic win at the legendary stadium, boss Casey Stoney was critical of her team’s performance and called it “disappointing.”
      Speaking after the game, she said: “Good second half, not so good first half if I’m honest.
      “I’ve come away from it disappointed with us really in terms of an exhibition.
      “If there was a crowd in here, they would’ve been disappointed in the first half so just as well there wasn’t.
      “Second half they would’ve been really pleased with the team and the response.
      “So we’ve done it now, we’ve played at Old Trafford, for me it’s about next time and doing it with a crowd, and making sure that we’re better.”
      Defeat for the Hammers meant they stay at the bottom of the table with their WSL safety slipping through their fingers.
      Despite their loss at Old Trafford, boss Olli Harder took some positives from their performance and thinks they can still remain in the league.
      He said: “The application today was fantastic and we said it’s okay to be disappointed and it’s okay to be upset.
      “But what’s not okay is for us to give up this fight moving forward, we’ve got some important games coming up so we must continue.”
      Stoney was underwhelmed with her team’s performance at the Theatre of Dreams and labelled it disappointingCredit: PA

      United took the lead in the game after a sluggish start through James – sister of Chelsea star Reece James – who headed in a corner in the 49th minute.
      Press put the game to bed shortly after when she latched out to a defence splitting pass from Jackie Groenen to smash her strike past a helpless Courtney Brosnan in the 54 minute.
      And the Hammers misery was complete when Laura Fetterleine sent for a foul on Kirsty Hanson in the 76 minute.
      Harder remained upbeat after the Hammers defeat and reckons they can still stay in the WSLCredit: PA
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      Tottenham boss Skinner focused on defeating Arsenal in WSL North London derby

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      REHANNE SKINNER hopes Tottenham Women can make WSL history by toppling Arsenal for the first time at the home of Spurs’ Prem team. And the former Lionesses assistant coach is not letting memories of past glory with the Gunners get in the way of her goal later. 
      Tottenham are set to take on Arsenal in the WSL for the first time under Rehanne SkinnerCredit: Rex
      Arsenal are three points behind Man United with a game in hand and hope to beat TottenhamCredit: Getty
      Tottenham, who are eighth, are set to take on a resurgent Arsenal in a behind closed doors derby at Spurs 62,000-seater ground. 
      And it will be the first time the team have faced Arsenal under Skinner who enjoyed a trophy-laden spell as Gunners’ assistant manager from 2010 to 2013. 
      Skinner, 41, who won two WSL titles with Arsenal, said: “I have got an attachment to Arsenal and an attachment to Leicester which is the club I started at. 
      “I think you always have those special memories that you created through those periods. 
      “But football is football and I’m here to focus on the job I’m doing at Tottenham.
      “At the same time, it’s nice playing against the club that you were at before. 
      “Three points are big in any game. I think getting them in a North London derby is something people can’t underestimate.
      “It is a different game when you play the most local team with a history and a reputation like they have on the men’s side of things. 
      “It sometimes carries over a bit into the women’s team. 
      “Getting those three points from any game right now is really important to us. Getting it from Arsenal will be even better.”
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      Spurs who are eighth hope to pick up their first WSL win against the Gunners at Tottenham Hotspur StadiumCredit: Getty

      Skinner, whose side are targeting their first win since a 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa in December, is reported to have the FA’s highest Psychology in Football qualification. 
      Using this to help her players excel on and off the pitch is a subject the former England Women’s No2 is passionate about.
      And she has help from Hockey ace Helen Richardson-Walsh who won a gold medal with Team GB women’s hockey team at the Rio 2016 Olympics. 
      Skinner added: “Psychology in elite sport is really vital. 
      “And often, to be honest, I think it can be overlooked – the stuff that goes on off the pitch that players have to handle.
      “Ultimately affects performance if it’s not managed properly.”
      “I don’t think you get through a day or a coaching session without having to consider what that looks like when you’ve got a squad of 23 people with different feelings, personalities and backgrounds.”
      Skinner says psychology in football is important in helping players develop their skills on the pitchCredit: Getty
      “It’s about being able to bring all of that together to work in your favour at the time when it really matters and developing skills as you would with a ball.
      “It’s definitely something that we work towards and I’ve got a really good support team.
      “Helen Richardson-Walsh is here as our performance psychologist who’s a gold medal winner, been there done that and got the t-shirt.” 
      Meanwhile, Arsenal, who are chasing a return to the Champions League, are looking to pick-up their fourth win on the bounce. 
      Joe Montemurro’s side are eager to humble their rivals at the home of Tottenham’s Prem team after beating them 2-0 in front of a record crowd of 38,262 last season.
      With fans currently prohibited from attending stadiums supporters can watch the game on FA Player and on Tottenham’s official website.
      Joe Montemurro says Gunners fan Lotte Wubben-Moy personifies what “it means to be Arsenal”Credit: Zuma Press
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      And life-long Arsenal fan and full-back Lotte Wubben-Moy, 22, is particularly keen to see her side pick up a win. 
      Montemurro, 51, said: “Lotte has had this massive smile on her face all week. 
      “And, coupled with the fact that she scored last week and is showing her true capabilities, I think for me, the exciting thing is what’s to come. 
      “We think she’s a player who will personify what it means to be Arsenal”. 
      A win for Tottenham will see them go level on points with Reading if the Royals lose to Man CityCredit: Getty
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      Zelem relishes making Old Trafford history in Man United Women’s clash with Hammers

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      KATIE ZELEM says leading Man United Women’s team out at Old Trafford will go down as one of the most thrilling experiences of her career. And the life-long Red Devils fan is expecting a “physical” battle with West Ham when the teams take to the field.
      Katie Zelem will skipper Man United Women’s team in their first game at Old Trafford which kicks off at 11:30Credit: Getty
      United will be looking for their second WSL win against West Ham after beating them 4-2 earlier this seasonCredit: PA
      Zelem, 25, who began her journey as a footballer at United’s Centre of Excellence at six, has fond memories of visiting the Theatre of Dreams during her childhood.  
      And now the Oldham-born Red Devils skipper – who spent four years at Liverpool from 2013 – hopes to seal her ever WSL win at the world-famous stadium. 
      Zelem told SunSport: “I think it’s, it’s quite hard to say, in a structured way what this means for me. 
      “I’ve visited the Theatre of Dreams since I was young and been to numerous games that we’ve won and we’ve lost with good experiences and bad ones. 
      “When I watched the men’s team walk out onto the pitch when I was young, I used to think ‘my god that must be amazing. And now it’s me doing it.
      “I think it is something I definitely couldn’t have imagined, but it’s definitely high up on my list of achievements.
      “I’m sure it is with a lot of the other girls in the team.” 
      United will take on the Irons behind closed doors with Covid restrictions currently preventing fans from attending WSL matches. 
      And the historic game not being aired on television has been described as a “missed opportunity” by team boss Casey Stoney.
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      Zelem and her United team-mates are hoping to qualify for a spot in next season’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty

      Zelem, who moved to Manchester from Juventus in 2018, hopes her side – who are third – do their fans proud when they play the Hammers. 
      Their visitors, who are bottom and winless in six games, are battling to keep their top-flight spot. 
      Zelem added: “West Ham are a really organised team and very physical. 
      “That’s something we need to be prepared for. I think if we execute our game plan well and hopefully, the three points will be ours.
      “For the fans our family and friends, to be able to see us walk out there and know that we’re making them proud will be huge for us.” 
      United’s Old Trafford appearance comes in the same week football chiefs announced a megabucks agreement to air WSL games on Sky Sports and the BBC next season.
      And Stoney hopes the three-year £24million deal – reported to be the biggest broadcasting in women’s football history – will lead to in-depth punditry around the sport. 
      Casey Stoney hopes the WSL’s TV deal with Sky Sports and the BBC will lead to more in-depth women’s football punditryCredit: Getty
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Stoney said: “It’s going to give people more jobs which is great, more opportunities to do punditry. 
      “All I ask is let’s do it properly. Let’s analyse the game as we would do the men’s and let’s look at the tactics, look at the nuances within each team, let’s pick it apart. 
      “And I think the pundits will have a real opportunity to be able to do that now.”
      West Ham are looking to register their first win in the top-flight under Olli HarderCredit: Rex
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      WSL TV deal is a massive coup but now the women’s game should be run by Prem to realise potential

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      IT IS possible the butchery in the First World War trenches made gentlemen in authority squeamish about their womenfolk hurting themselves.But that can’t be the only reason for the ban on women’s football in 1921, even though the FA did claim: “The game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.”
      Karren Brady writes exclusively for SunSportCredit: The Sun
      The WSL TV deal is a massive coup for the women’s game but the Premier League should be helping them maximise itCredit: Getty
      There were suggestions that the women’s semi-professional game was becoming too popular.
      Why, one match actually totted up an attendance of 53,000. Few First Division fixtures drew that many spectators back then.
      Yet, I’d allow the reason they gave.
      Among the middle classes the idea of an active woman was all very well as long as it amounted to healthy walks in the countryside.
      Getting bruised, muddied and tackled, well that just wasn’t deemed civilised.
      Among the lower orders though, women’s football was quite popular on the understanding that she did the washing, cleaned the house, looked after the children, cooked and didn’t mind her chap having quite a few pints before she went off to play a match!
      What that generation, men or women, rich or poor, would make of this week’s announcement of a £7.3million-a-year payment to showcase women’s football on the BBC and Sky, I can only guess.
      Something along the lines of “BBC, Sky, television? What are they?”
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      And the old buffers who thought we had chicken-strong bones, no co-ordination and couldn’t kick the skin off a rice pudding, might guess it was a follow-up to HG Wells’ War of the Worlds.
      In some ways it is, and we girls are winning it. The WSL has a financial deal that is a high line across the world.
      The Women’s Super League is not yet the biggest women’s club domestic competition in the world — but it will be. Soon.
      The Premier League enjoyed meteoric growth soon after it was founded in 1992.
      It did so by going it alone, to begin with you might say selfishly, but it worked because the clubs acted with one voice as they liked the motive of driving the Premier League to be the most successful football league in the world.
      An ambition which has been achieved.
      Seventy per cent more people watch the PL than the Champions League, and the PL global audience is more than that of LaLiga, Serie A and Bundesliga combined!
      It saddens me that a few PL clubs are rebelling in the interest of what they believe will be greater returns for them personally, ignoring the fact that there is strength in unity and, that regardless of personal wealth, it is not they but everyday fans who pay for the League’s success.
      So, if the WSL wants to be a global brand it must be single-minded.
      The Women’s Super League has landed a landmark broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and the BBCCredit: Getty
      The FA have been a great help in netting a contract which guarantees televised women’s football on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday basis. The coup was to get 18 matches on BBC1 and BBC2 and 44 games on Sky.
      Much less helpful is the fact that the WSL will only get 37.5 per cent of the money raised from the sale of their own TV rights, because the FA have decided to keep the rest.
      To do God knows what with!
      What a shame the FA don’t have the vision to keep all the money in the WSL and use it to drive the League into being a massive global brand.
      In the three years of its existence, its growth has been a phenomenon.
      Fine players are already here.
      One of the very best, Pernille Harder, has just joined Chelsea, and more will be attracted by the highest wages in the world along with the quality of play.
      Every WSL club loses money and is subsidised by the men’s game but you don’t have to be Bill Gates to see a great future in this League.
      A future that will only be realised if the running of it is handed over to the Premier League.
      So, in the centenary of the FA ban on women’s football, it’s good to see that the WSL revolution has legs.
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      Melbourne City striker melts hearts as boyfriend battling cancer proposes at her last game before retirement

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      TEARFUL Rhali Dobson rounded off her final game as a Melbourne City player with a heartwarming moment with boyfriend Matt Stonham. Dobson is retiring to care for Matt, who is being treated for brain cancer.
      Rhali Dobson was moved to tears by her boyfriend proposing at her final game before retirementCredit: Getty
      Dobson, 28, is hanging up her boots to support her fiance Matt as he receives treatment for brain cancerCredit: Getty
      And the striker was left stunned when he proposed during her team’s clash with Perth Glory. 
      The W-League heroine, 28, netted the opener in Melbourne’s 2-1 win against their rivals and ran to the corner to celebrate with Matt who was cheering from the sidelines.
      And Dobson was moved to tears when her partner got down on bended knee on the pitch to ask the love of his life to marry him. 
      Dobson told ESPN: “I don’t feel like I’m ready to retire but sometimes life makes those choices for you. 
      “But with everything going on it’s a decision that has to happen — because it’s bigger than the game.”
      “Matt and I are very open about everything. He was diagnosed with brain cancer six years ago after a seizure on the soccer field when he was playing. 
      “He had brain surgery and that was successful and then he elected to stay on just having reviews with oncology after everything went so well the first time. 
      “He was having a checkup and they noticed a bit more activity in a very small area [of his brain] back in February.
      “Then we got the news two days after I got back down here to Melbourne that the part that they took out — which they got all of, which is fantastic — had transitioned to a grade III brain tumour.
      “So, he now starts aggressive radiotherapy until the end of May and then he’ll start aggressive chemotherapy for 12 months.
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      Dobson’s Melbourne City team-mates were also moved by Matt’s romantic pitchside proposalCredit: Getty
      The Melbourne striker says her fiance is her “absolute world”Credit: Getty

      “We’ve caught things exceptionally early, he’s on the very positive end of the scale because of his age.
      “He had no other signs or symptoms, it was for him a routine check-up.
      “This is bigger than the sport. He is my absolute world.” 
      Dobson, who began her senior playing career at 16 at Newcastle Jets, moved to Melbourne City in 2017. 
      The Australia forward made 44 appearances netting three goals for the club prior to her decision to retire at 28.  
      Dobson appeared visibly emotional after her partner Matt’s proposal. 
      And the couple were swarmed by the striker’s team-mates and family who congratulated them. 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Dobson made 44 appearances for Melbourne City before her retirement at the age of 28Credit: Getty
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      Chelsea 2 Wolfsburg 1: Kerr and Harder on target as Blues seal first win against German champions

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      EMMA HAYES praised Chelsea for overcoming their hoodoo against Wolfsburg with a battling 2-1 Champions League quarter-final victory. Pernille Harder returned to haunt her old side with Sam Kerr also on target as the Blues exacted revenge for seven past defeats to the German giants. 
      Pernille Harder netted a Champions League goal against her former team WolfsburgCredit: Getty
      Sam Kerr was also on target for the WSL champs, who won the first leg of their quarter-final tie against WolfsburgCredit: Getty
      Hayes said: “We’ve definitely closed the gap. They’re still a top team, they’re still unbelievable in the air and good down the sides.
      “This is such a step up from the WSL. They have dominated English teams for 15-odd years. 
      “I’m left feeling like the advantage is with them because they’ve got the away goal.
      “But I thought we were spirited, with a lot of good performances.
      “The realities are that this is a team that’s been well-developed over a number of years, so for anybody to think this was going to be an easy tie for them, it’s not. 
      “We gave them a game and I’m happy about that.”
      Chelsea – so used to dominating possession and overpowering opponents – found themselves on the back foot in the early stages. 
      And they came close to conceding in the 13th minute with Wolfsburg skipper Alexandra Popp’s strike hitting the underside of the Blues’ crossbar.
      And the WSL champs endured another scare several minutes later with the German giants forcing a spectacular double-save from Ann-Katrin Berger. 
      The Blues keeper blocked two close-range efforts from Fridolina Rolfo before Magda Eriksson’s brilliant headed clearance off the line from Popp.
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      Ann-Katrin Berger pulled off several stunning saves for ChelseaCredit: EPA
      And Wolfsburg should have gone ahead close to half-time with Rolfo forcing another Berger save after attempting to capitalise on Millie Bright’s headed error. 
      The second-half was a different affair with Chelsea determined to push forward. 
      And their efforts were rewarded with Sam Kerr netting her 17th goal of the season in 24 appearances across all competitions. 
      The Australia skipper combined with Fran Kirby to deadly effect with the playmaker teeing up Kerr who rounded keeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.  
      And Hayes hailed the duo for their clinical play under pressure. 
      Hayes added: “I think everybody knows the pressures both Fran and Sam are under, but they are a joy to watch with the way they play together.
      “I thought Sam was unbelievable tonight. She enjoyed being on the biggest stage and showed why she is one of the very best in the world.”
      Kerr turned provider for Harder who buried a bottom corner strike to put Chelsea two goals ahead in the 66th minute. 

      Fran Kirby and her Chelsea team-mates will take on Aston Villa next ahead of their second-leg tie with WolfsburgCredit: AFP
      But the hosts saw their lead cut four minutes later with Wolfsburg winning a pen dispatched by Dominique Janssen. 
      The closing stages of the duel saw some desperate last-ditch defending from Chelsea eager to protect their lead.
      And there were also moments of drama with Emma Hayes picking up a yellow card for her furious reaction to Popp’s challenge on Berger.
      The result sees Chelsea take a one-goal advantage to the second-leg against Wolfsburg with a match against Aston Villa to come beforehand.
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